Teams & Riders The Remco Evenepoel is the next Eddy Merckx thread

[Blanco]

I’m merely quoting Kuss. The leader. From Jumbo-Visma.

You heard Kuss saying that?

 

[Berniece]

You heard Kuss saying that?

Kuss said in interview that he said to Remco they won’t keep giving him time. And Remco said that Vingegaard said to him that Jumbo believes he still wants to go for GC.

 

[FroomeWagon]

I would not disagree with the assessment that Lodewyck isn't the ideal DS. But I don't think that it matters too much if a DS has been a world class cyclist. Lefevere himself wasn't exactly world class either, but he was very suitable as a DS. And think of someone like Nicolas Portal, a mediocre cyclist, but a highly respected DS. It takes more to be an effective team leader than just a sumptuous palmares.

I heard yesterday that QuickStep doesn't have anyone in management that ever raced for a GC in a grand tour. Is that true? and if so, is it a problem?

 

[Hugh Januss]

I heard yesterday that QuickStep doesn't have anyone in management that ever raced for a GC in a grand tour. Is that true? and if so, is it a problem?

Perhaps, but he has the staunch backing of his fanbase. That makes up for a lot.

 

[Monte Serra]

I heard yesterday that QuickStep doesn't have anyone in management that ever raced for a GC in a grand tour. Is that true? and if so, is it a problem?

I think that's true, but it's also true for Jumbo Visma. Grischa Niermann, Frans Maassen, Merijn Zeeman et al. have also never raced a grand tour GC. So in my opinion it's not necessarily a relevant metric.

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

I think that's true, but it's also true for Jumbo Visma. Grischa Niermann, Frans Maassen, Merijn Zeeman et al. have also never raced a grand tour GC. So in my opinion it's not necessarily a relevant metric.

Agree its not the necessarily relevant metric, but at least Niermann rode GT with some GC contenders, for example Rasmussen in the 2007 Tour and Gesink in the 2008 Vuelta. And he’s been working with GC riders more or less for 10 years, while the QuickStep guys have worked with a GC bid since 2020 (I assume Alaphilippe 2019 happened by accident).

 

[staubsauger]

Niermann also worked alongside Levi Leipheimer at Rabobank!

Maybe that's the secret behind his always attacking total cycling approach: He saw how not to do it!

 

[Valanga]

They also made a lot of mistakes at Jumbo, before becoming the dominant team.
Making mistakes is not an issue though, as long as you want to learn from them.

 

[theyoungest]

I think that's true, but it's also true for Jumbo Visma. Grischa Niermann, Frans Maassen, Merijn Zeeman et al. have also never raced a grand tour GC. So in my opinion it's not necessarily a relevant metric.

Zeeman set up this whole system at Jumbo to improve their coaching. That's why they originally poached him from Skil-Shimano. I think most DSes at Jumbo have a degree from Johan Cruyff university, they at least have some theoretical knowledge of what it takes to coach athletes. Of course they've had their share of less inspiring DSes as well, you also need to have the personality and the talent to be a good coach. Iljo Keisse, to me, seems like he has what it takes, but it also takes experience.

 

[Carrick-On-Seine]

Agree its not the necessarily relevant metric, but at least Niermann rode GT with some GC contenders, for example Rasmussen in the 2007 Tour and Gesink in the 2008 Vuelta. And he’s been working with GC riders more or less for 10 years, while the QuickStep guys have worked with a GC bid since 2020 (I assume Alaphilippe 2019 happened by accident).

Uran got a second in the Giro in 2014 and Mas the same at the 2018 Vuelta.
And Dan Martin was top ten at the Tour in both years he was there so they should have a bit of a clue though iirc those riders didn't have a lot of support as QS were also up to their usual sprinting and stagehunting with other riders.

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

Uran got a second in the Giro in 2014 and Mas the same at the 2018 Vuelta.
And Dan Martin was top ten at the Tour in both years he was there so they should have a bit of a clue though iirc those riders didn't have a lot of support as QS were also up to their usual sprinting and stagehunting with other riders.

Yep, good point with Uran, Mas and Martin. I dont know how many of the main staff of todays team was around those years, but like Klaas Lodewyck which seems to be the main DS for Remco came to QuickStep for the 2019 season.

 

[ManicJack]

Will Remco be able to resist attacking on the climb even though he said he was going to shed time today?

 

[Berniece]

Will Remco be able to resist attacking on the climb even though he said he was going to shed time today?

I would sit in the wheel of Roglic. If he feels the tempo is too high knowing he wants to win tomorrow, just drop.

 

[witeken]

Sad day to be Remco fan.

 

[Berniece]

Sad day to be Remco fan.

Why? He said he wasn't going to go for it

 

[Big Doopie]

Frankly, I don’t see it with Vingo, unless he gets to the foot of the climb tomorrow in a break.

 

[Eddy Evenepoel]

Remco need a big break with at least 1 team mate to go within the first 30 km (if the breakaway fight goes on for an hour that will cost a lot of energy and will give a short distance to build up the gap) to be fighting for the win tomorrow.

 

[Netserk]

He doesn't win the KOM if Vingegaard is freed.

 

[peterfin]

He doesn't win the KOM if Vingegaard is freed.

Vingegaard was as free as a bird today.

 

[Berniece]

He doesn't win the KOM if Vingegaard is freed.

Freed? The guy only rode for himself the whole Vuelta

 

[Krzysztof_O]

Tactical genius by El Patron today: convincing Skeletor that he's not a GC threat to win more stages in week 3!

 

[Extinction]

Remco is now training for the Tour next year, as per Bruyneel's advice, dispite Armstrong doubts as to his capacity to win it.

 

[Salvarani]

Sad day to be Remco fan.

Been a tough Vuelta for us. Hope he can salvage something in the last week. Yesterday was hard again to see

 

[peterfin]

Been a tough Vuelta for us. Hope he can salvage something in the last week. Yesterday was hard again to see

He just did what he said: demonstrating to JV that he doesn't care about the GC anymore. I think it's a good strategy because it gives him the most chances to win stages and the KOM.

Some argue that he should stay with the GC group in all mountain stages 'to test himself and learn' but that clearly conflicts with his winner mentality. I can see the value in doing that but the only other good option is his current strategy. It allows him also for once to ride without pressure and enjoy what he did always earlier in his carreer, going for long range attacks, so why not?

 

[Andre]

He just did what he said: demonstrating to JV that he doesn't care about the GC anymore. I think it's a good strategy because it gives him the most chances to win stages and the KOM.

Some argue that he should stay with the GC group in all mountain stages 'to test himself and learn' but that clearly conflicts with his winner mentality. I can see the value in doing that but the only other good option is his current strategy. It allows him also for once to ride without pressure and enjoy what he did always earlier in his carreer, going for long range attacks, so why not?

"pressure is a privilege"----Billy Jean King